ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996            TAG: 9611060029
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN

PUBLIC PULSE

* Some Montgomery County residents and businesses who subscribe to water and sewer service from the Public Service Authority may see an increase in their bills.

Monday, the authority approved new water and sewer rates effective immediately. The authority, which serves rural areas outside Blacksburg and Christiansburg, wants to make water and sewer rates uniform for business and residential customers. Currently there are separate schedules for business and residential customers and for water and sewer service.

* The changes mean a residential customer being billed for 5,000 gallons of sewer service would see his bill increase by 17 percent, from $22 a month to $25.75. A water bill for 5,000 gallons would stay the same. The rate change is one way the cash-strapped authority hopes to raise more money for operations. Jerry Mabry, the authority's utilities engineer, said in October that most residents would not see a change in their water bill, although high-bulk business users would. No one spoke at last month's public hearing on the rate increase.

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